EU Copyright Directive – Request to write to your MEPs

With the final vote on the EU Copyright Directive approaching later this month, the anti-copyright campaign by big-tech is now back in full swing.

AIM and IMPALA need your help. Please write to MEPs to make it clear that the independent music community supports the EU Copyright Directive. You can find instructions from IMPALA here on how to get in contact including a suggested template email and Parliamentarians’ contact details.

MEPs continue to be subject to huge pressure by companies trying to undermine the legislation. A new campaign, Pledge 2019 was launched recently asking parliamentarians to pledge not to vote for Article 13. It uses threats of telling citizens not to vote for MEPs in the upcoming European elections if they don’t sign up. The website displays the name and face of parliamentarians who have and have not signed this pledge, and encourages people to phone them up.

We need you to contact MEPs to remind them again that their country’s independent music sector (labels and self-released artists) supports Article 13, and that we support them in standing up to these appalling tactics. You will find below a template email that you can adapt, and can download a list of all MEPs by country here.

Look out for more information and communication materials to come soon. The vote is expected to be on 25/26 March.

Email to MEPs

Subject: Our plea to vote in favour of Article 13

Dear Member of the European Parliament,

We are aware that you are being asked to pledge not to vote for Article 13 of the copyright directive in plenary. We have seen the threats that voters will be told not to vote for you if you vote in favour of the directive.

We ask you to resist these threats, which seek to create a false divide between creators and citizens.

The legislation is much needed as it brings copyright up to date. As part of this, the directive clarifies the position of platforms in Article 13 and confirms that they are responsible for licensing, not citizens.

The directive also introduces important new rules that benefit artists and authors, including two new provisions voted in September that the parliament was able to win in the final trilogue. These provisions will be meaningless if they are not also accompanied by Article 13.

Some powerful voices object to Article 13 because they want to hold onto the old world. Many myths are being spread around. You will find out more about what Article 13 actually says on this website.

We are not major media companies, we are independent music companies and self-released artists. We do not have the market power to have a proper say online. We trust in legislators to create the right framework. We feel the final outcome balances the interests of all stakeholders and we urge you not to sign the pledge to vote against it.

We ask you to vote yes to copyright and take a stance for creators and citizens across Europe.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With kind regards,

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Contact us

The Association of Independent Music
Lamb House, Church Street, Chiswick
London W4 2PD